U.S. patent number 6,263,869 [Application Number 09/548,242] was granted by the patent office on 2001-07-24 for stove cover device.
Invention is credited to Todd W. Abernethy.
United States Patent |
6,263,869 |
Abernethy |
July 24, 2001 |
Stove cover device
Abstract
A stove cover device for creating additional counter space by
covering the top surface of the stove. The stove cover device
includes a covering member for covering the top surface of a stove.
The covering member includes a plate. The plate has a top surface,
a bottom surface, and a peripheral edge. A peripheral wall extends
away from and is integrally coupled to the peripheral edge. A pair
of securing means removably secures the peripheral wall to the
panel on the stove. Each of the securing means is adapted for
removably coupling to a panel of the stove.
Inventors: |
Abernethy; Todd W. (Saint
Catharines, Ontario, CA) |
Family
ID: |
24187981 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/548,242 |
Filed: |
April 12, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/211; 126/215;
126/39B |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C
15/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F24C
15/14 (20060101); F24C 015/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;126/211,217,218,214R,214A,214C,214D,212,220,42,39B,215,216 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lazarus; Ira S.
Assistant Examiner: Cocks; Josiah C.
Claims
I claim:
1. A stove cover device for covering a stove, the stove having a
top surface having a back edge, a panel extending upwardly from
said back edge, said device comprising:
a covering member for covering said top surface of said stove, said
covering member comprising:
a plate, said plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a
peripheral edge;
a peripheral wall, said peripheral wall extending away from and
being integrally coupled to said peripheral edge, said peripheral
wall defining a first wail, a second wall, a third wall and a
fourth wall, said first and second walls being opposing walls, said
third and fourth walls being opposing walls, a juncture of said
peripheral wall and said plate being curved and forming a
ridge;
a pair of securing means for removably securing said peripheral
wall to said panel on said stove, each of said securing means being
adapted for removably coupling to the panel of the stove, each of
said securing means comprising an arm, each of said arms being
elongate and having a first end, a second end, a top edge and a
bottom edge, each of said arms being generally planar, each of said
first ends of said arms being fixedly coupled to said peripheral
wall, a first of said arms being positioned at a junction of said
first and third walls and a second of said arms being positioned at
a junction of said second and third walls, said first arm generally
lying a plane of said first wall, said second arm generally lying a
plane of said second wall, each of said arms having a bracket
thereon adapted for releasably securing about said panel of said
stove.
2. The stove cover device as in claim 1, wherein;
each of said brackets is generally L-shaped and has a first leg and
a second leg, each of said legs being generally planar, each of
said first legs having an edge integrally coupled to a top edge of
one of said arms such that said second legs are directed toward
each other, each of said second legs of said brackets being
generally positioned adjacent to one of the second ends of said
arms.
3. The stove cover device as in claim 1, further comprising;
a pair of gripping means for gripping said securing means, each of
said gripping means being a protrusion coupled to one of said
brackets, each of said protrusions generally extending in opposite
directions with relation to each other.
4. A stove cover system, said system comprising:
a stove, said stove having a top surface, said top surface having a
back edge, a front edge and two side edges, a panel extending along
and fixedly coupled to said back edge, said panel being orientated
generally perpendicular to said top surface of said stove, said
panel having a plurality of actuating means thereon for actuating
said stove;
a covering member for covering said top surface of said stove, said
covering member comprising:
plate, said plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a
peripheral edge, said plate having a generally rectangular
shape;
a peripheral wall, said peripheral wall extending away from and
being integrally coupled to said peripheral edge, said peripheral
wall extending downwardly away from said plate, said peripheral
wall defining a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a
fourth wall, said first and second walls being opposing walls, said
third and fourth walls being opposing walls, a juncture of said
peripheral wall and said plate being curved and forming a ridge,
said peripheral wall having a free edge, said free edge being
curved toward said bottom surface of said plate, said peripheral
wall being orientated generally perpendicular to said plate, said
peripheral wall having a height substantially equal to two
inches;
a pair of securing means for removably securing said peripheral
wall to said panel on said stove, each of said securing means
comprising an arm, each of said arms being elongate and having a
first end, a second end, a top edge and a bottom edge, each of said
arms being generally planar each of said first, ends of said arms
being fixedly coupled to said peripheral wall, a first of said arms
being positioned at a junction of said first and third walls and a
second of said arms being positioned at a junction of said second
and third walls, said first arm generally lying a plane of said
first wall, said second arm generally lying a plane of said second
wall, each of said arms having a bracket thereon, each of said
brackets being generally L-shaped and having a first leg and a
second leg, each of said legs being generally planar, each of said
first legs having an edge integrally coupled to a top edge of one
of said arms such that said second legs are directed toward each
other, each of said second legs of said brackets being generally
positioned adjacent to one of the second ends of said arms;
a pair of gripping means for gripping said securing means, each of
said gripping means being a protrusion, each of said protrusions
being coupled to one of said first legs of said brackets, each of
said protrusions generally extending in opposite directions with
relation to cash other, each of said protrusions being generally
hollow and having an open end; and
said covering member comprising a resiliently flexible material,
said resiliently flexible material comprising a plastic.
5. A stove cover device for covering a stove, the stove having a
top surface with a back edge arid a panel extending upwardly from
said back edge, said device comprising:
a covering member for covering said rop surface of said stove, said
covering member comprising:
a plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral
edge;
a peripheral wall extending away from and being integrally coupled
to said peripheral edge;
securing means for removably securing said peripheral wall to
opposite ends of said panel on said stove;
wherein said peripheral wall defines a first wall, a second wall, a
third wall and a fourth wall, said first and second walls being
opposing walls, said third and fourth walls being opposing walls,
each of said securing means comprising an arm, each of said arms
being elongate and having a first end and a second end, each of
said first ends of said arms being fixedly coupled to said
peripheral wall, a first of said arms being positioned at a
junction of said first and third walls and a second of said arms
being positioned at a junction of said second and third walls, each
of said first and second arms extending upwardly from said top
surface of said plate, each of said arms having a bracket thereon
adapted for releasably securing about said panel of said stove.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to stove covers and more particularly
pertains to a new stove cover device for creating additional
counter space by covering the top surface of the stove.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of stove covers is known in the prior art. More
specifically, stove covers heretofore devised and utilized are
known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious
structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs
encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for
the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,945; U.S. Pat. No.
5,115,797; U.S. Pat. No. 386,945; U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,122; U.S.
Des. Pat. No. 348,800; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,696,812.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives
and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new
stove cover device. The inventive device includes a covering member
for covering the top surface of a stove. The covering member
includes a plate. The plate has a top surface, a bottom surface,
and a peripheral edge. A peripheral wall extends away from and is
integrally coupled to the peripheral edge. A pair of securing means
removably secures the peripheral wall to the panel on the stove.
Each of the securing means is adapted for removably coupling to a
panel of the stove.
In these respects, the stove cover device according to the present
invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and
designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus
primarily developed for the purpose of for creating additional
counter space by covering the top surface of the stove.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types
of stove covers now present in the prior art, the present invention
provides a new stove cover device construction wherein the same can
be utilized for creating additional counter space by covering the
top surface of the stove.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be
described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new stove
cover device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages
of the stove covers mentioned heretofore and many novel features
that result in a new stove cover device which is not anticipated,
rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior
art stove covers, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a
covering member for covering the top surface of a stove. The
covering member includes a plate. The plate has a top surface, a
bottom surface, and a peripheral edge. A peripheral wall extends
away from and is integrally coupled to the peripheral edge. A pair
of securing means removably secures the peripheral wall to the
panel on the stove. Each of the securing means is adapted for
removably coupling to a panel of the stove.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description
thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that
the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
There are additional features of the invention that will be
described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the
claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the
invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited in its application to the details of construction and
to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is
capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out
in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology
and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description
and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and
especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art
who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to
determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence
of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is
neither intended to define the invention of the application, which
is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to
the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new
stove cover device apparatus and method which has many of the
advantages of the stove covers mentioned heretofore and many novel
features that result in a new stove cover device which is not
anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of
the prior art stove covers, either alone or in any combination
thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new
stove cover device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured
and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new
stove cover device which is of a durable and reliable
construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new
stove cover device which is susceptible of a low cost of
manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which
accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the
consuming public, thereby making such stove cover device
economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
new stove cover device which provides in the apparatuses and
methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while
simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally
associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new
stove cover device for creating additional counter space by
covering the top surface of the stove.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new
stove cover device which includes a covering member for covering
the top surface of a stove. The covering member includes a plate.
The plate has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a peripheral
edge. A peripheral wall extends away from and is integrally coupled
to the peripheral edge. A pair of securing means removably secures
the peripheral wall to the panel on the stove. Each of the securing
means is adapted for removably coupling to a panel of the
stove.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
new stove cover device that has a securing means for securing the
cover to the stove.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a
new stove cover device that has a gripping means for ease of
release of the securing means.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the
various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are
pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming
a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the
invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects
attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying
drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated
preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than
those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is
given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new stove cover device
according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic end view of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of
the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded view of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the securing means of the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1
through 6 thereof, a new stove cover device embodying the
principles and concepts of the present invention and generally
designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the stove cover device 10
generally comprises a stove 12 and covering member 20. The stove 12
has a top surface, shown through the covering member 20. The top
surface has a back edge, a front edge and two side edges which are
abutted against the covering member 20. A panel 14 extends along
and fixedly coupled to the back edge. The panel 14 is orientated
generally perpendicular to the top surface of the stove. The panel
14 has a plurality of actuating means thereon for actuating the
stove.
The covering member 20 covers the top surface of the stove 12. The
covering member 20 includes a plate 22. The plate has a top surface
24, a bottom surface 26, and a peripheral edge 28. The plate 22 has
a generally rectangular shape.
A peripheral wall 30 extends away from and is integrally coupled to
the peripheral edge 28. The peripheral wall 30 extends downwardly
away from the plate 22. The peripheral wall 30 defines a first wall
31, a second wall 32, a third wall 33 and a fourth wall 34. The
first 31 and second 32 walls are opposing walls, and the third 33
and fourth 34 walls are opposing walls. A juncture of the
peripheral wall 30 and the plate 22 is curved and forms a ridge 36.
The peripheral wall has a free edge 38. The free edge 38 is curved
toward the bottom surface 26 of the plate 22. The peripheral wall
30 is orientated generally perpendicular to the plate 22. The
peripheral wall 30 has a height between one and five inches and
ideally has a height substantially equal to two inches.
A pair of securing means 40 removably secures the peripheral wall
30 to the panel 14 on the stove 12. Each of the securing means 40
comprises an arm 42. Each of the arms 42 is elongate and has a
first end 43, a second end 44, a top edge 45 and a bottom edge 46.
Each of the arms 42 is generally planar. Each of the first ends 43
of the arms 42 is fixedly coupled to the peripheral wall 30. A
first of the arms 42 is positioned at a junction of the first 31
and third 33 walls and a second of the arms 42 is positioned at a
junction of the second 32 and third 33 walls. The first arm
generally lying a plane of the first wall 31, and the second arm
generally lying a plane of the second wall 32. Each of the arms 42
has a bracket thereon 48. Each of the brackets 48 is generally
L-shaped and has a first leg 51 and a second leg 52. Each of the
legs is generally planar, and each of the first legs 51 has an edge
integrally coupled to a top edge 45 of one of the arms 42 such that
each of the second legs 52 is directed toward the other. The second
legs 52 of the brackets are generally positioned adjacent to one of
the second ends 44 of the arms 42.
A pair of gripping means 54 helps the user grip the securing means
40. Each of the gripping means 54 is a protrusion coupled to one of
the first legs 51 of the brackets 48. The protrusions extend in
opposite directions with relation to each other. Each of the
protrusions is generally hollow and has an open end 56.
The covering member 20 comprises a resiliently flexible material.
The resiliently flexible material ideally comprises a plastic.
In use, the covering member 20 is placed over the surface of the
stove 12 when the stove is not in use. This allows the stove to be
used additionally countertop space. The covering member 20 has two
securing means 40 for holding the covering member to the panel on
the stove. The gripping means 54 allow the user to pull the
brackets 48 away from the panel 14 for ease of removal of the
covering member 20.
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of
the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above
description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the
manner of usage and operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized
that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the
invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,
function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed
=readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all
equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and
described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by
the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications
and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within
the scope of the invention.
* * * * *